India for Peace in Ukraine, Montelukast, Ovarian Cancer

(General Studies II – International Relations- Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests)

• As the war in Ukraine enters its third year, a new wave of peace diplomacy is gaining momentum, with both Russia and Ukraine showing a greater inclination toward ending the conflict.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed peace initiatives from countries like Brazil, China, and India, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also invited leaders from the Global South to contribute to the peace process.
• India, having consistently advocated for dialogue and diplomacy since the onset of the conflict, is now presented with a potential opportunity to play a more active peacemaking role.

India’s Four-Point Principle for Peace –

Recently External Affairs Minister laid out India’s four-point principle for resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict:

1. Time for Peace: India believes that this is the right moment for peace and dialogue, emphasizing the need to stop hostilities.
2. No Military Solutions: India asserts that there can be no solutions to the war on the battlefield, highlighting the futility of further escalation.
3. Inclusion of Russia in Peace Talks: For any peace process to be successful, Russia must be included in the discussions, recognizing its crucial role in the conflict.
4. India’s Concern and Engagement: India remains concerned and engaged in the ongoing efforts to resolve the conflict and has been consistent in its diplomatic outreach, including the National Security Adviser’s visit to Moscow for peace consultations.

These principles underline India’s consistent message that disputes cannot be resolved through war, a point reiterated during the Prime Minister’s visits to both Moscow and Kyiv. The emphasis is on diplomacy and dialogue as the only viable pathways to peace.

India’s Peace-making Potential –

• Korea and Vietnam Peace Process:  India played a critical role in proposing a ceasefire and facilitating peace talks during the Korean (1950-53) and Vietnam Wars (1955-75). India has huge experience in contributing to ending Global hostilities.
• Strong Relations with Russia: India’s long-standing ties with Russia give it leverage to engage Moscow in meaningful discussions, potentially encouraging Russia towards negotiations.
• Global Influence: As a rising global power and a leader in the Global South, India’s involvement can bring new perspectives to the conflict resolution process.
• Assessment of Previous Efforts: India could draw lessons from recent peace diplomacy efforts, such as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s initiatives, which involved direct talks with major actors including Putin, the Chinese President and former US President.
• Peace Fatigue in Europe: Although Europe has voiced strong support for Ukraine, internal divisions are emerging, with some factions advocating for reconciliation with Russia. This presents both opportunities and challenges for India’s involvement in peace talks.
• Geopolitical Impact on India: Major wars like the Ukraine conflict often lead to a reorganization of regional and global orders. A new security arrangement in Europe would have a direct impact on India’s foreign relations and global positioning.
• Impact on India’s Economic and Security Policies: The ongoing war in Ukraine has created economic and security challenges for India, making the restoration of peace a critical objective. A stable Europe would allow India to focus on its economic growth and ensure security in the broader Asian region.

As peace talks gain traction, India must carefully navigate its diplomatic engagements and contribute to the broader global effort to restore stability in Europe, ensuring it remains a key player in the evolving global order. India’s commitment to maintaining dialogue and fostering diplomacy could become increasingly influential in helping to resolve one of the most significant global conflicts of recent times.

• The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is set to release its report on India’s mutual evaluation.
• India is now in the ‘regular follow-up category’, alongside countries like France, Italy, Russia, and the UK.
• The plenary concluded that India has achieved a high level of technical compliance with FATF’s anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism financing, and Counter-proliferation financing standards.
• However, it highlighted the need for addressing delays in prosecutions, enhancing international cooperation using financial intelligence, and depriving criminals of assets.
• The FATF is likely to meet Indian private sector stakeholders.
• ‘Recommendation 16’ (R.16) needed to be updated to ensure that the standards remain technology-neutral and followed the principle of “same activity, same risk, same rules”.
• It aims to help make cross-border payments faster, cheaper, more transparent and inclusive whilst remaining safe and secure; an objective that is part of the G20 Priority Action Plan.

Dig Deeper: Read about Gray List and Black Lists of FATF.

• The Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology (CSTT), under the Union Education Ministry, has launched a website, shabd.education.gov.in, providing technical terms in all 22 official Indian languages.
• This platform serves as a central repository for terminologies prepared by CSTT and other institutions with similar dictionaries.
• Currently, 450 dictionaries with three million words are available.
• Users can search for scientific and technical terms in Indian languages, provide feedback, and search by language, subject, dictionary type, or language pairs.
• This website is particularly significant in the ongoing efforts to offer technical education, including in medicine and engineering, in Indian languages.

Dig Deeper: Read about Classical Language status and benefits accorded to it.

• Montelukast, a drug prescribed for asthma, has raised serious concerns due to its potential neuropsychiatric side effects, including depression, aggression, and suicidal tendencies.
• Despite warnings issued by health authorities in the U.S. and U.K., the drug’s use in India remains largely unregulated, with its sales increasing exponentially.
• Approved in 1998, montelukast is considered inferior to inhaled corticosteroids for asthma management and is not recommended as a first-line treatment for allergic rhinitis.
• Montelucast widely prescribed in India as
• Patients prefer oral medications.
• General lack of awareness about its potential side effects.
• The misconception of inhalers being unsafe and having addictive potential led to a preference for montelukast.
• Additionally, the drug is often combined with antihistamines in India, an unscientific practice primarily driven by profit motives.

Dig Deeper: Read about Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients.

• Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynaecological malignancy, often referred to as a “silent killer” due to its vague symptoms, such as bloating, pelvic pain, and loss of appetite, which are often mistaken for less serious conditions.
• In India, it ranks among the top three cancers in women.
• Ovarian cancer has two main subtypes: Type I -less common, early-stage diagnosis, better prognosis and Type II is more common, aggressive, advanced-stage diagnosis, higher mortality.
• Survival rates depend on early detection and treatment.
• Unlike breast or cervical cancer, there are no reliable screening tests for ovarian cancer.
• The CA125 blood test, while useful for monitoring after diagnosis, is not effective for routine screening.
• Genetic factors play a significant role, with mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes increasing the risk of ovarian cancer.
• Genetic testing can help manage risk through surveillance and preventive measures.

Dig Deeper: Read about NexCAR19 for the treatment of cancer.